Shower curtain valance interchange

ABSTRACT

A shower curtain and valance combination are presented. The combination has a shower rod and the valance being connected to the shower rod. The shower curtain is connected to the valance at a plurality of apertures in the valance. The couplings connecting the valance and the shower curtain are easily removable. The valance is interchangeable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to shower curtains. More particularly, it relates to shower curtain and valance combinations.

BACKGROUND

Numerous inventions have heretofore been proposed which include curtains that are easy to hang and to remove. However, each of the prior art inventions have been found wanting in one or more particulars. In particular, these inventions have employed cooperating strips of hook and loop material (e.g., VELCRO™) which secure a curtain to a hanger device.

Although hook and loop material is easily attachable and detachable, it lacks strength. If too much force is applied in pulling on a curtain which is attached to a hanger by hook and loop material, the hook and loop material can detach from each other, causing the unwanted removal of the curtain. This can especially be a problem for a shower curtain because the user pulls on the curtain in order to open or close it.

In addition, in many of these prior art devices, snaps are used for the attachment of the curtain to the hanger. However, snaps have many drawbacks. Attaching a curtain to a hanger using snaps can be time consuming because a user must find the corresponding snap hole for each snap. Additionally, snaps may be difficult for people with arthritis to use.

Hence, there is a need in the art for a shower curtain which is easily attached and removed from a valance. There is also a need in the art for a shower curtain which is securely attached to a valance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a traditional shower curtain.

FIG. 2 is a view of an exemplary valance.

FIG. 3 is a view of an exemplary valance of FIG. 3 secured to a shower rod.

FIG. 4 is a view of an exemplary shower curtain and valance combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. All terms in the plural shall also be taken as singular and vice-versa. Further, any reference to he shall also be applicable to she and vice-versa.

Referring to FIG. 1, a traditional shower curtain will now be described. A shower curtain 100 is a flexible plastic shower curtain having a first upper portion 112 and a second lower portion 122. The upper 112 and lower 122 portions form the entire shower curtain 100 may be hung from a shower rod 108. The shower curtain is a flexible, planar sheet having a rectangular configuration that the upper portion 112 having a top 116 and bottom edges extending longitudinally therebetween.

The upper portion 112 defines a plurality of apertures 118 equidistantly spaced apart along the top edge 116 thereof.

The shower curtain 100 includes a plurality of shower curtain rings 120 or S-hooks, each hook having one end configured to extend through an aperture 118 and an opposed end configured to releasably hang from a shower rod 108. Therefore, the shower curtain 100 may be removably coupled to a shower rod 108 with the rings 120 or other suitable fasteners. The shower curtain 100 is easily detachable and can be replaced with another to change the looks and decor of a bathroom.

The shower curtain 100 may also have a valance (not shown) which is coupled to the top edge 116 of the upper portion 112 of the shower curtain 100. The valance having apertures positioned significantly similar to the plurality of apertures 118 of the shower curtain 100. The valance (not shown) is easily interchangeable with other valances and may be changed or the shower curtain 100 may be changed to create a different look and decor of the room.

The plurality of shower curtain rings 120 or S-hooks, extend through the apertures of the valance and through the apertures 118 of the shower curtain 100. The curtain rings 120 or S-hooks are removably hung over the shower rod 108. This allows the plurality of curtain rings 120 to be changed to create a different look based on the desires and likes of a given user. The change of the curtain rings 120 allow for the decorations of the valance to be changed rapidly and as often without much effort by a user.

When the shower curtain 100 or valance is to be removed for cleaning or interchangeable with another shower curtain 100 or valance, the entire shower curtain 100 and valance would be removed from the curtain rings 120 or S-hooks. The shower curtain 100 may be interchangeble with another shower curtain 100 or may be reinstalled after washing.

Moving now to FIG. 2, an exemplary valance is presented. The valance 200 is a length of fabric such as cotton, nylon, rayon, etc. The valance 200 has an inside surface 210, an outside surface 215, a top portion 220 and a bottom portion 240. The valance 200 may optionally have a liner coupled to the inside surface 210 of the valance 200 to protect the fabric from water from a shower.

The valance 200 has a plurality of apertures 230. The plurality of apertures 230 are significantly along a line and significantly near the top portion 220 of the valance 200. The plurality of apertures 230 are shown as small rectangles, but may of any size or shape that will support a connector without causing damage to the valance 200 and will not show when a connector has been coupled to the plurality of apertures 230 of the valance 200.

The apertures 230 of the valance 200 may be useful in being able to interchange valances 200, shower curtains 100 or curtain rings 120. The ease of removing and installing allow for different decors to be attained without great effort.

Accessories 240 are useful in providing decorating styles for a user. The accessories 240 are interchangeable or mixed and matched to provide contrasting or embellishments of the decorations shown on the shower curtains 100, the valances 200 or the room in general. The accessories 240 different patterns such as stars 242, round with decoration 244, American Flag 246, etc. The accessories 240 are coupled to the curtain rings 120 on the outside surface 215 of the valance 200 and thus enhancing or embellishing the design and viewing aspect of the shower curtain 100 and the entire bathroom.

FIG. 3 is a view of the valance 200 of FIG. 2 hanging on the shower rod 108 of FIG. 1 and the exemplary connector for a shower curtain 100.

The valance 200 has the plurality of apertures 230. The valance 200 has a connecting means (not shown) coupled to a plurality of straps 310. The plurality of straps may be any type of strap or other connecting means for connecting the valance 200 to the shower rod 108. The straps may be Velcro, nylon, stretch fabric, etc.

Each of the plurality of straps 310 is coupled to the shower rod 108. Further, each of the plurality of straps 310 has a fastening device 320 at a bottom portion 330 of each of each of the straps 310. The fastening device 320 supports the weight of the shower curtain 100 which may be secured to the straps 330 by the fastening device 320. The fastening device 320 may be a clip, a clamp, a snap, etc. The fastening device 320 may be made of plastic, heavy plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fabric, etc. The fastening devices 320 are preferably quick release connectors.

Moving now to FIG. 4, a view of the exemplary shower curtain and valance combination is presented. The valance 200 of FIG. 2 and the shower curtain 100 of FIG. 1 is shown. The valance 200 has a plurality of apertures 230 for securing the valance 200 to the shower rod 108. The valance 200 has connecting means to secure the valance 200 to the plurality of straps 310.

The straps 310 are secured to or hung on the shower rod 108 to secure the valance 200 at a position that is consistent with the desired positioning. The location of the plurality of apertures 230 allow for the valance 200 to hide the shower rod 108 from view of those who view the shower curtain 100 and valance 200 combination.

Each of the plurality of straps has a fastening device 320. The each of the fastening devices 320 is in a secure communication with the shower curtain 100. At least a portion of the upper portion 112 of the outside surface of the shower curtain 100 is positioned behind the bottom portion 240 of the inside surface 210 of the valance.

This allows for the decoration of the valance 200 to be viewable when looking the shower curtain 100 and valance 200 combination. The length of the shower curtain 100 and valance combination is preferably between 72 and 78 inches to accommodate typical bath tub/shower combinations but may be any size that may be desired to have a shower curtain 100 and valance 200 combination.

By have a shower curtain 100 that is removable from the valance 200 using fastening devices 320, the shower curtain 100 is easier to remove and clean and to replace to update or redecorate a bathroom area.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved shower curtain and valance combination, the improved shower curtain and valance combination comprising: a curtain rod for holding the shower curtain and valance combination; a valance, the valance having top portion outside surface and an inside surface; a shower curtain with a top portion, an inside portion and an outside portion, wherein substantially near the top potion of the shower curtain has a plurality of openings; the top portion of the valance having a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures being at a position substantially near the top portion of the valance and being coupled to a strap; the strap being communicatively secured to the shower rod; and the strap having fasteners, where the fasteners are coupled to the openings of the shower curtain by one or more decorative shower hooks; and one or more accessories coupled to the shower hooks on the outside surface of the valance.
 2. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the shower curtain is fabric and a waterproof liner.
 3. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the valance is fabric.
 4. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the inside portion of the valance is against at least a portion of the outside portion of the shower curtain.
 5. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors being quick release curtain hooks.
 6. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the connectors removably couple the shower curtain to the valance.
 7. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the valance being decorative.
 8. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the shower curtain is removable from the valance.
 9. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, where the straps being Velcro.
 10. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the shower curtain and valance combination being between 72 and 78 inches in length.
 11. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the shower curtain being washable.
 12. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the shower curtain is removed and replaced by a second shower curtain.
 13. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1, wherein the valance is interchangeable with a second valance.
 14. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1 wherein the one or more accessories are interchangeable.
 15. The improved shower curtain and valance combination of claim 1 wherein the one or more accessories is a star pattern. 